half-blood

ten

“Do you think Pasiphae’s still behind this?” Mr. D asked the older ones

“I’m afraid she most likely is but let's not pinpoint anyone when we're still not sure of what's really happening.” Chiron stated, looking awfully serious than he usually is. 

“But the last time we used it for the three legged race, it’s less sinister than the older campers used to tell.” Jimin butted in. Before the meeting started, Jisoo gave the boy an ambrosia to eat in order for his strength to return. Jisoo wanted to know why the goddess specifically asked for Jimin to help her find her hunters but she doesn’t want to cross the line, especially when Jimin himself isn’t trying to open the topic.

“It is. But the three legged race isn’t done usually. We only do it when we feel like it, and it’s not every day. Heck, we didn’t even do that kind of game for two years now.” Taehyung started to get impatient, “Can we just split into teams now so we can start finding the people we need to find?”

“I’m staying with Jisoo, and Chaeyoung to find Lisa.” Hosoek volunteered.

Jungkook raised his hand, “I’m going with Jimin and Taehyung then.” 

“I’m with Yoongi and Jin.” Namjoon said

“And I’ll be with my hunters.”

Jisoo leaned sideways to whisper something to Chaeyoung, “Why isn’t she going with Jimin when she needs him?”

“Her hunters aren’t really that comfortable travelling with boys. They’ve been like that ever since they became hunters; it’s an oath never to have romantic feelings with boys or else the goddess will punish them.” 

Jisoo stared at Artemis after what Chaeyoung said. The goddess looked stoic once again, yet she still looked innocent with her features; she doesn’t really look like a million years old to her.

After some time, demigods were inside the Poseidon’s cabin, waiting for Jimin to get ahold of himself. He was still recovering, but he’s now insisting that he has to go save Jennie from an alive underground maze. 

“You sure you’re alright now, Jimin?” Taehyung asked his best friend after they have gathered their things inside their messenger bags

“Yes.” Jimin sounded determined. “I need to find Jennie.” 

Taehyung looked wary of his friend’, “You know she’ll never come back to you, right? She took an oath.”

“Jennie’s sworn to a goddess and the river styx. She’ll die if she comes back to you.” Jungkook reminded Jimin, who just smiled at them. 

“I know all of that. I just want to save Artemis’ favorite huntress, that’s all.”

Taehyung and Jungkook exchanged looks before Taehyung pat his friend’s shoulder. “Then let’s meet the others. They must be waiting for us outside the forest.”

The trio met the others at the entrance of Camp Half-Blood forest. As much as Taehyung wanted to be with Jisoo, they needed to split into teams to find the others quicker. Besides, he thought, she has her brother with her. He believes Hoseok will protect her; he’s one of the best archers from their cabin after all. 

When Jisoo found Taehyung and his best friends, she tried hard not to approach him. She wanted to reassure him that they’ll find his younger sister and the others, yet she also needed to reassure herself that they can do that, especially when they’re going inside a maze full of monsters. They didn’t really have a solid plan, they only talked about who’s going with who, and where they will meet after.

They went down its entrance, near the famous pile of rocks shaped like a large fist, hence its name, Zeus’ fist. After all of them got inside, the small entrance they came in closed on its own. Jisoo, being the only one new in their group, flinched.

“It’s always like that. Don’t be startled.” Jisoo turned her head to her right and saw who just talked to her – Yoongi. 

“I’m nervous.”, she said, forgetting that it’s the boy she never really had a long conversation with ever since she’s training with them

“Don’t be.” Yoongi said nonchalantly before he started walking with Namjoon, leaving her beside Jin, and Hoseok

They got in the maze deeper and stopped when they felt like they needed to split into their teams already. However, as they tried to find their companions, two birds came swooping down them, causing them to scatter.

“Strixes!” Namjoon yelled beside Jungkook, whose sword was already in his grip. 

Strixes are birds with glistening, obsidian black plumage, leathery red claws, a golden beak, thick black tongues, and round golden eyes. These creatures are like hydras; kill one, more will appear. 

“Strixes are bad omen!” Artemis said, “Keep your guards up. Monsters might come sooner than we thought.”

The ground began shaking as the walls shifted around them. Directly under Jisoo was standing, she felt the ground lift her up before someone pulled her back. “Jisoo!” She heard faint yells coming from her brother and someone she couldn’t recognize as the sound from the movement of the walls was already loud enough. Seconds after, a new wall already separated her and her brother. 

“Looks like I’m stuck with you.”